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From the Field » Blog Archive » Volunteers Blossom at the Maine State Museum: "I don’t know how many times I have heard from our volunteers, “thanks for letting me be here.” I am astonished and humbled whenever I hear that. But these people really mean it. They feel privileged to be a part of this institution. They learn and grow and stretch their abilities in ways they never thought of doing before. They help people enjoy a visit, they make an artifact clean and ready for display, or they put a disorganized collection into order and feel so good as a result."

When I first learned about the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), I thought it was a wonderful idea. For those of you who haven’t heard of the FEP, it is a project organized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals aimed at helping nonprofits assess their current fundraising efforts, identifying areas where they can improve and ultimately increasing their giving level."

A New Eastern Exposure For Fundraisers: "Expatriates from Israel and several Western countries, usually successful businesspeople and high-tech specialists, are moving to places like China, India and Singapore in increasing numbers. In the region, whose total Jewish population numbers about 10,000 (China’s is by far the largest), members of the community are establishing a network of religious and cultural organizations there, and supporting Jewish causes back home, especially in Israel."

New Jersey non-profits: an economic force - Center for Non-Profit Corporations - Helping Hands - NJ.com: "New Jersey's nonprofit organizations touch our daily lives in countless ways: through assisting and caring for our most vulnerable people; promotion of dialogue and public discourse; protection of our natural resources; artistic and cultural enrichment; spiritual and religious fulfillment; education and mentoring of youth and adults; assembly for social change; and many other vital services to people from infancy to senior years."

When St. Paul's Bush Foundation announced this week that it would change the way it channeled the $40 million a year it gives away in philanthropic support, the news sent ripples of concern throughout the state's non-profit community."

The Minnesota Museum of American Art is looking at another move, a leadership change and recurring deficits, a triple whammy of organizational stress. Its reserves have dropped 40 percent in four years, from more than $2.9 million in mid-2003 to less than $1.8 million in mid-2007, according to nonprofit tax returns on the Minnesota Attorney General's website."

This year, though, the number was cut to $750,000. The reason? The HFPA says it was because they lost that $6 million fee. In other words, as I predicted, the Golden Globes are blaming the writers for cutting their donations."

As with private developers, nonprofits like the energy savings that come with green buildings. But other factors, including the ability to “walk their own talk,” are pulling nonprofits into green construction, said Katie Spataro, research director of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Seattle office."

'I think what we're seeing on a national basis, and it applies locally, is donor fatigue,' said Mike Scarpone, executive director of Rockingham Community Action. 'There are a lot of organizations out there going after charitable dollars ... and with economic times being what they are, people have begun to scale back."

JS Online: Picking right event date a juggling act: "Choosing a date to host an event to maximize the potential draw of people while simultaneously keeping costs at their lowest level is a juggling act that every party planner tries to master. Knowing your target audience and their availability — just as Williams and Smith did with their wedding invitees — can often allow you to succeed at times that might otherwise seem undesirable."

Pooling their philantrophy : News-Record.com : Greensboro, North Carolina: "The Future Fund, an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, was created in 1999 as a way for 25- to 45-year-olds to pool their money in a collective effort to improve Greensboro. Since 2000 , the group has given out more than 50 grants worth more than $300,000 and has banked about $800,000 in a permanent endowment to empower generations of givers to come."

Northwest Asian Weekly: Asian American nonprofit prepares for grand opening: "In this economic climate, nonprofits are finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds, yet Asian Counseling and Referral Service managed a very successful capital campaign. In fact, they have exceeded their goal of $19.1 million, though the fundraising campaign continues in order to decrease the mortgage and funnel as much funds into direct services as possible."

That volunteer rate helped the Waterloo-Cedar Falls statistical area rank 14th out of 75 mid-sized cities included in the nationwide study. Roughly 54,000 volunteers in Waterloo contributed 5.7 million hours each year, making for an estimated annual economic contribution of $112 million."

Strongman Phil Pfister faced off with a 155,000-pound purple and orange FedEx plane to help raise money for Charleston's Ronald McDonald House. He became the first person to successfully pull a plane alone during this type of charity event."

Scotiabank hits the greens for charity: "In a new development this year to raise additional funds for the shelter, the tournament also features an online auction in association with Blu's and Rogers Broadcasting for the use of Scotiabank's corporate suite at Pengrowth Saddledome for a Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers game."

All-star cast as colleagues get plastered for charity - The Star: "COLLEAGUES at a Barnsley firm got plastered - raising money for a charity which helps hospital patients who have suffered medical accidents.Staff at Raleys solicitors sported plasters, pots, bandages and crutches as part of efforts to raise money for the charity AvMA - Action Against Medical Accidents."

Global Impact - Health - redOrbit: "HOK of St. Louis is an architectural design and engineering firm with an international presence and orientation. The company is committed, not only to doing business throughout the world, but to enhancing it as well, even in the remote southeast Kenyan mountain village of Mbirikani."